Question about hitch carriers and tongue weight

[Spooler]

Ok, so I’ll start off by saying I know virtually nothing about hitches, towing, tow ratings, etc. I have been desperately wanting to pick up a folding trailer for years, but I don’t have space to store one. I was thinking about getting a hitch carrier so I can at least tote my Husky 501 around, maybe bring it along on a family trip, etc. I have a Subaru Outback and some quick googling, it looks like the tongue weight limit for the Outback is 250 lbs. The bike weighs 245-ish, and it looks like the carriers are around 30-40 lbs. Is going over the tongue weight limit by 25-25 lbs a big deal, or not really anything to worry about? The car’s suspension and frame are in good condition, and I would be buying a new class III hitch and having it installed only if I end up getting the carrier or figuring out where to store a trailer. I could load the front of the car up with some extra weight if needed… Honestly, I have no real idea what the consequences of exceeding the tongue weight are, and google is all over the place. Anyone got any first hand insight? Thanks.

[Honclfibr]

You should not be putting a motorcycle carrier on a class 1 hitch, and most likely wouldn't be able to find one anyway as they will all be for 2" receivers.

The consequence of exceeding the tongue weight is maybe you go over a big bump and your hitch/frame/bumper cracks/falls off the car along with your bike.

[Spooler]

You should not be putting a motorcycle carrier on a class 1 hitch, and most likely wouldn't be able to find one anyway as they will all be for 2" receivers.

The consequence of exceeding the tongue weight is maybe you go over a big bump and your hitch/frame/bumper cracks/falls off the car along with your bike.

Like I said, it would be a class 3 hitch

[Jim]

step 1: figure out your max tongue weight with the vehicle
step 2: look up the weight of your carrier hitch
step 3: look up the weight of your bike
step 4: profit

seeing your weights in post 1, you're better off with a small utility trailer and not a carrier hitch. if interested, i have one for sale.

[OreoGaborio]

What year? I'm seeing some sources say the Outback has a 350 tongue weight but they mighta beefed it up recently.

In addition to tongue weight you may want to eyeball your ground clearance. Hitch carriers stick out pretty far and when you plop a bike on it you're gonna have a good amount of droop.


EDIT: Oohhh...

"Subaru hitches are engineered to the same rigorous standards as the rest of the Outback. Heavy-duty 2-inch receiver is rated at 3,500 lbs. towing capacity, 350 lbs. tongue weight, for the 2.4L Turbo XT and Wilderness models, and 2,700 lbs. towing capacity, 270 lbs. tongue weight, for the naturally aspirated 2.5L. "

[e30addict]

maybe bring it along on a family trip, etc.

Considering people and cargo, hanging that weight off the back will probably put you over on payload or at least max it out. if you can find storage, a small trailer is a way better option overall.

[Vovchandr]

Is there 0 chance of finding room for trailer? Many can be stood up on the side/on an end for minimal space

Overall having a small enclosed can be a life changer. Becomes a mini garage where you can store the bike and yourself etc and much easier on the car tongue.

The tongue weight limit isn't always a limit on the unibody, you might be surprised to find out that your axles aren't rated for the weight you're planning especially with cargo etc.

[RandyO]

[PurplePackage]

one of these might be ok. note you will wear out the rear tire

https://smile.amazon.com/ECOTRIC-Mot...dp/B0892B7YY7/

[RandyO]

one of these might be ok. note you will wear out the rear tire

https://smile.amazon.com/ECOTRIC-Mot...dp/B0892B7YY7/

and chain & sprocket wear unless you remove the chain

[Crconnor18]

Get a single rail stinger or trailer in a

https://stingertrailer.com/product/s...railer-xl-112/

[Spooler]

What year? I'm seeing some sources say the Outback has a 350 tongue weight but they mighta beefed it up recently.

In addition to tongue weight you may want to eyeball your ground clearance. Hitch carriers stick out pretty far and when you plop a bike on it you're gonna have a good amount of droop.


EDIT: Oohhh...

It’s a 2017 2.5. If it’s 270 for mine (I’ll have to double check, I’m getting all different numbers on google) that might work…

[Spooler]

I really don’t know where I’d fit a folding trailer… no room in my driveway or front yard, my back yard is fenced and I can’t imagine it would be easy to get one through the gate. It is conceivable in the garage, but I would have to get rid of a ton of stuff, possibly including a bike, and I would lose a lot of my already limited room to work…

[Spooler]

I’m getting three different numbers for tongue weight for my car. Some places say 200, some 250, some 270. I think I’m just going to give up on it until I figure out space for a trailer. I did inherit my mother’s house when she passed away last year, I could keep a trailer there, but that’s 4 hours away… maybe keep a bike and the trailer there full time, it’s in the Catskills so way more good riding there anyway. I’ve also thought about getting a new car, but the Outback is payed off and only has 70k miles on it…

[loudbeard]

I'd get the beefiest unit you can from E-Trailer and send it. It will be a unibody mount which typically has fairly large plates where the hitch frame mates to the body. Increase the size of the washers inside the car. Be prepared for oncoming traffic to be pissed at you because your low-beams blind them. Zero concern about actually damaging the car, take it easy through the pot holes.

Just send it.

[Jim]

I'd get the beefiest unit you can from E-Trailer and send it. It will be a unibody mount which typically has fairly large plates where the hitch frame mates to the body. Increase the size of the washers inside the car. Be prepared for oncoming traffic to be pissed at you because your low-beams blind them. Zero concern about actually damaging the car, take it easy through the pot holes.

Just send it.

Harbor Freight makes a decent one now that's rated for 600lbs. i'm going to be testing it out soon to be towing the Grom

[FriskyDingo]

yeah, saw that yesterday while searching on harbor freight, pic kinda freaked me out
https://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb...ier-57720.html


but it is on a truck.

I'd be a U-haul frequent flyer before I'd risk my bike on the hitch rack that close to the # limit, but that's me, I'm paranoid as fuck about towing/hauling...

[golden chicken]

For the 2x a year max that I need a trailer, I rent one from uhaul. It'll take me 10+ years of renting before I'd break even with a trailer, and I never have to store or maintain it.

[black]

Keep in mind... you ride may/ will suffer. with that weight on the hitch your rear suspension will be compressed. Coupled with your family in there and other luggage etc.. Your rear may/ will be very very compressed. and you'll have less weight on your front suspension. i'd be careful driving turning/ off ramps etc.
It will handle differently, maybe real bad.
and your suspension will more easily bottom out/ shock may leak.

[loudbeard]

Gman didn’t worry about that. Bagged his Outback IIRC.

[tsorfas]

Honestly your solution is to rent / borrow a trailer until you can buy one.
I wouldn’t mess with the hitch carrier for what you’re trying to do. Too much risk.

[Garandman]

We bought a hitch carrier for a Honda CRF100F and used it a few times to carry a TW200 and a WR250R. The car was a 2006 Outback 3.0R. Not sure if rear springs on the 3.0 are stiffer than 2.5.

Class 3 hitch. Used extra tail lights. Added straps from the bike up to the roof rack to help support and stabilize the load.

The WR250R was the absolute max I’d carry. Didn’t like it at all.

Our 2005 3.0 has RalliTek springs that are considerably stiffer, which might help.

But if you have a hitch, just rent a UHaul. If the weather is bed we rent an enclosed trailer.

[Paul_E_D]

I've done a LOT of hitch hauling. It's pretty easy to improve your car to handle the weight. Sumo springs in place of the bump stops work wonders for leveling the ride. (probably improve general handling too). As far as the hitch and bumper issues. get under the car and see how the hitch mates to the car. if it is face mounted only, it's pretty easy to design a couple of supports that carry the tilt load on the rear subframe or something solid. I did this on my van and carried full on sportbikes this way. Load up the bike on the haler and then stand on the extension part to see if there is and flex that may need addressing.

Hitch haulers are incredibly convenient solutions once you sort out these issues.

[Garandman]

/// Load up the bike on the haler and then stand on the extension part to see if there is and flex that may need addressing.

Hitch haulers are incredibly convenient solutions once you sort out these issues.

Some carriers have clamps to minimize movement. Very worthwhile and have the added benefit of making it more difficult to steal.

[Paul_E_D]

Yes, the anti sway ones are best. I have a Joehauler. When I say look for flex, I am more thinking of flex between the hitchmount and vehicle.